They called it a "Playstation event" and previous Playstation events have been held to announce new hardware. Wouldn't be shocked if it's just a "PS4 is coming, but we won't show you until E3" announcement.

I've heard both Sony and Microsoft will be announcing the next gen systems well before E3, remember E3 is in June now, not May, so everyone wants to get in first.

I've also heard a somewhat absurd rumor that Microsoft will release the next gen system at E3. The reality is probably mid to late October.

That rumor seems to pop up for various consoles. It never makes any sense.

Also, didn't Sony say something about not showing off the new console until MS shows off theirs because they don't want MS stealing ideas? From Kaz's mouth last month: In the Business section of The Times today, Hirai said, "Why go first, when your competitors can look at your specifications and come up with something better?"

None. The processors they put in them have to be somewhat economical, and that means they can't even push those resolutions. Heck many of the current gen systems can't be at 1080p for this reason. Almost all current games are either 720p native games or they're so simple in design that they can be 1080p without a performance hit. Does this all mean the PS4 won't support 4k? No, it may support 4k for video playback, but you won't see any games designed for that resolution any time soon.

Higher res output for games means higher res textures, higher res geometry, more RAM use, more strain on the CPU and less space on the optical disc. If you're cool with a 4K version of Galaga or Pacman, that's about all you'll get for a $400-$600 game system

I've also read that HDMI currently is a bottleneck for 4k output as well.

None. The processors they put in them have to be somewhat economical, and that means they can't even push those resolutions. Heck many of the current gen systems can't be at 1080p for this reason. Almost all current games are either 720p native games or they're so simple in design that they can be 1080p without a performance hit. Does this all mean the PS4 won't support 4k? No, it may support 4k for video playback, but you won't see any games designed for that resolution any time soon.

Higher res output for games means higher res textures, higher res geometry, more RAM use, more strain on the CPU and less space on the optical disc. If you're cool with a 4K version of Galaga or Pacman, that's about all you'll get for a $400-$600 game system

None. The processors they put in them have to be somewhat economical, and that means they can't even push those resolutions. Heck many of the current gen systems can't be at 1080p for this reason. Almost all current games are either 720p native games or they're so simple in design that they can be 1080p without a performance hit. Does this all mean the PS4 won't support 4k? No, it may support 4k for video playback, but you won't see any games designed for that resolution any time soon.

Higher res output for games means higher res textures, higher res geometry, more RAM use, more strain on the CPU and less space on the optical disc. If you're cool with a 4K version of Galaga or Pacman, that's about all you'll get for a $400-$600 game system

Frame rate has nothing to do with it, it's data rates, current 1.3 HDMI spec can handle 10.2 GBps, which is more than enough to pass a compressed 4K video stream, 1.4 spec will allow you to pass 4k streams without compromising the other aspects of HDMI, as well as adding an ethernet channel for two way communication between devices. The only hurdle with HDMI is making sure all the connected devices in the chain are 1.4 compliant.

Heck there are 4k videos on you tube right now.

set resolution to ORIGINAL

It's a matter of finding what level of compression is acceptable for viewing. For example a Blu Ray movie comes in at about 15-30 MBps for 1080p 24fps, 4k is roughly 4 times larger in size, you can get blu ray quality compression at 1.2 GBps. HDMI 1.4 has a max video stream data rate of 3.4 GBps, so you could have an even better picture should you want to push the limits, which most movie producers rarely ever do.

I'd say we're looking at about another 5 more years before 4k is more commonplace, but the question is whether broadcasters (some who don't even bother doing 1080i) are willing to go to yet another format change. Considering the time it took for the digital conversion to take place, I wouldn't hold my breathe there.

Everything I'm reading is saying that you'll need HDMI 2.0 to send 4k uncompressed video to your TV useful for videogames. Of course, that's assuming the PS4 actually has the power to output 4k at 60 Hz.

HDMI 1.4 is currently limited to 4k at 24 Hz. HDMI 2.0 is rumored to be over 18 GBps which should allow for 4k at 60 Hz.

HD isn't even uncompressed, 4k uncompressed will never happen. I shot a 40 min short film with a Dalsa Origin 4k uncompressed, each frame of the movie is 40 megabytes, that level of throughput and storage is unattainable on consumer electronic devices.

I've heard both Sony and Microsoft will be announcing the next gen systems well before E3, remember E3 is in June now, not May, so everyone wants to get in first.

I've also heard a somewhat absurd rumor that Microsoft will release the next gen system at E3. The reality is probably mid to late October.

This seems extremely absurd when you realize that MS has a triple A title coming out in August (Splinter Cell) and i think one other was recently given a September launch date. Surely they saw the flaw in releasing games for the previous gen system and new gen at the same time. Sony did this and the PS2 consoles continued to outsell PS3s for at least two years. That would be especially bad if there is no backwards compatibility.

Also, didn't Sony say something about not showing off the new console until MS shows off theirs because they don't want MS stealing ideas? From Kaz's mouth last month: In the Business section of The Times today, Hirai said, "Why go first, when your competitors can look at your specifications and come up with something better?"

I have heard this as well. I think Sony got impatient, they cant really afford to sit on this for too long. They have to do a good push to recapture their lead in the American market and announcing first goes a long way towards that.

The article said nothing about no new games. It said that you will not be able to purchace used games. This is something that has been talked about before and is in some ways already being implemented on bioware games with their in the box codes that unlock a main part of the game.

The article said nothing about no new games. It said that you will not be able to purchace used games. This is something that has been talked about before and is in some ways already being implemented on bioware games with their in the box codes that unlock a main part of the game.

The article said nothing about no new games. It said that you will not be able to purchace used games. This is something that has been talked about before and is in some ways already being implemented on bioware games with their in the box codes that unlock a main part of the game.

This no used games thing could be a really big deal. I understand they want to make ALL the money, but how can they even begin to talk about cutting out the used games trade. Will you not even be able to loan games to a friend?

LA, I thought it would be next holiday (2014) before we saw new hardware, especially with GTA V dropping in September.

Do you think it will be 2013?

Without a doubt,holiday 2013. Not sure why the release of GTA would factor in to new hardware. Plenty of big titles came out for the original Xbox and PS2 the year the XB360 and PS3 came out. Production cycles go for years and we can't wait for new hardware to keep the lights on.

Next Gen Console Updates

This no used games thing could be a really big deal. I understand they want to make ALL the money, but how can they even begin to talk about cutting out the used games trade. Will you not even be able to loan games to a friend?

Will console games/software be handled more like computer games/software & have license keys?

I hope the real controller is bulky like that. I have big hands and always had issue with the smallness of the dual shock along with the parallel placement of the sticks. This looks a little more 360ish.

I hope the real controller is bulky like that. I have big hands and always had issue with the smallness of the dual shock along with the parallel placement of the sticks. This looks a little more 360ish.

Last June, Sony purchased Gaikai, a company that can stream games -- delivering them over the internet in real time from remote servers, by sending their video frames. Now, The Wall Street Journal reports what many have suspected for months: the next PlayStation will use the service to stream games to the console. However, according to the publication, Sony won't necessarily use streaming technology to deliver brand-new games. Those will still be delivered on optical disc. Instead, the next PlayStation will bring existing PlayStation 3 titles to the new system.

The headline makes it sound like this is the method for gaming on the PS4, but it's Sony's money grab with the promise of backward compatibility if you're willing to pony up the dough for games you already own. Think UMD to PSP program. I'll be curious to see if it's any better than On-Live

These next gen consoles better rock my damn world. I'm talking VERY detailed graphics & textures, no angles on rounded objects, AND articulate speech. I wanna see faces, mouths and hands move accurately when they are delivering speech. It cheapens games if you can't make your character mouth the words they are saying.

With that said, I'm in no hurry for the next gen until they prove to me it is 100 times better than this generation. And this gen is pretty good IMHO.

Yeah, I don't see that happening. The graphics advancement has been incredible as a whole, but they don't seem to be near there yet with faces. Then once they do get there with faces, I imagine it will be an uncanny valley situation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncanny_valley

These next gen consoles better rock my damn world. I'm talking VERY detailed graphics & textures, no angles on rounded objects, AND articulate speech. I wanna see faces, mouths and hands move accurately when they are delivering speech. It cheapens games if you can't make your character mouth the words they are saying.

With that said, I'm in no hurry for the next gen until they prove to me it is 100 times better than this generation. And this gen is pretty good IMHO.

OK, so, I quoted myself. BECAUSE after watching LA's video on the future of game characters thread, I am now IN for the next gen. If they can get it THAT realistic, I'm all for it.

Microsoft's next-generation Xbox will be revealed on May 21st, 2013, an invitation from the company has revealed. The announcement from Don Mattrick and the Xbox team, titled "a new generation revealed," will take place at the company's Xbox campus in Redmond, Washington.

Speculation abounds about the name of Microsoft’s next-generation Xbox, set to be revealed on May 21st. Will it be called Xbox 720? How about its codename, Durango? Will it be called just Xbox? Or how about Xbox Infinity?
According to sources speaking with The International Business Times, it’s the latter moniker – Xbox Infinity – that’s the name of Microsoft’s third console. “Sources related to development of the new Xbox have confirmed to IBTimes UK that the console… will be called Infinity,” the article states.
The article also states that developers have next Xbox development kits, a given considering the console is likely to launch in fewer than six months.